Namibia continues to face an ongoing struggle in protecting the rights and civil liberties of its LGBT population with LGBT rights-based organisations in the country strongly relying upon their volunteers to take advantage of political opportunities and manage multiple visibilities. Despite a growing body of international research into volunteer motivation and the beneficial application of such knowledge in volunteer management strategies, a dearth of literature exists on the motives of volunteers within LGBT rights-based organisations. This study uses data from qualitative interviews with 6 formal volunteers from Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations to explore volunteer motivations. A thematic analysis of the research findings reveal the complex motivations underlying volunteering in these organisations. Volunteer motivations in Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations included: (a) addressing and promoting humanitarian concerns; (b) improved social interaction, integration and support; (c) self-regulatory opportunities for personal enhancement; (d) developing career prospects; and (e) responding to past homophobic incidents. Barriers to volunteering were also identified and included: (a) strained organisational resources; (b) LGBT discrimination; and (c) complacency. For volunteer recruitment and retention strategies to be effective, organisations need to recognise and satisfy volunteers’ motives while also properly training and assisting volunteers in their respective roles. Also, given the local LGBT community’s sense of complacency, Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations would greatly benefit by strategically engaging community members and working to overcome the community’s lack of urgency. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Frågan om jämställdhet på festivaler har de senaste åren varit ett ämne som lyft stora debatter på sociala medier. Kända artister har kritiskt lyft diskussioner centrerade på festivalernas könsfördelningar av artistbokningar. I jämförelse till dessa diskussioner var det dock svårt att hitta tidigare fakta och forskning som berör hur arbetet med jämställdhet bakom och inom festivalerna faktiskt ser ut. Studiens syfte ämnar därför undersöka hur två musikfestivaler arbetar och förhåller sig kring jämställdhetsfrågor. De festivaler som har studerats är Way Out West och Umeå Open, en större festival och en mindre festival. Ämnet implementeras inom en turismvetenskaplig forskning eftersom festivaler tillhör kultursektorn och har en bidragande faktor inför Sveriges besöksnäring. Festivaler kan även utifrån ett samhällsperspektiv anses bidra med platsidentitets skapande faktorer samt fungera som ett verktyg för att sprida budskap vilket gör ämnet om jämställdhet på festivaler relevant att studera. För att besvara studiens syfte har vi utgått från tre frågeställningar som belyser tre teman: Jämställdhet inom organisationen, jämställda bokningar, jämställdhet inför besökarna. Dessa teman är relevanta att undersöka eftersom vi anser att det är utifrån de perspektiven jämställdhet kan tillämpas inom en festival. Vidare kopplas dessa teman samman med studiens resultat som berör de strategier och tillvägagångssätt organisationerna bakom festivalerna har använt sig av för att arbeta med jämställdhet. I studiens slutsats presenteras vårt forskningsbidrag som kan antyda att det finns två särskiljande strategier som är relevanta vid arbete med jämställdhet på en festival. Studiens teoretiska ramverk baseras på tidigare forskning som berör feministisk geografi, jämställdhet samt musik och festivaler. Den primära datan har samlats in genom två intervjuer med en representant från Way Out West och en representant Umeå Open. Vidare har intervjuerna kompletterats med en bild- och textanalys i avsikt att undersöka om och i så fall på vilket sätt hemsidorna är könskodade. / For the past years there have been lots of discussions in social media relevant to the question about equality in festivals. Several famous artists have pointed out the gender distribution that exist in festivals bookings of performers. In perspective to these discussions there is little research to find about how festivals actually are working with the subject. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how two music festivals relate and work around the subject about equality. The festivals that this study are investigating is Way Out West and Umeå Open, one festival that is a bit bigger than the other. Furthermore, this study’s research can be related to tourism studies since festivals is an event related to culture that also can be recognized as a contributing factor for Swedens tourism industry. In addition, festivals also can be used as a tool to distribute political or social messages to a wider range of people which also points out the relevance of this study’s research. Further the aim of the study is answered to by three questions which are developed in three topics. These topics are: equality inside of the organisation, equality bookings and equality in perspective of the visitors. Notably we believe that these topics are central to research hence they are relevant to how equality can be applied in a festival. Additionally, are these topics connected to the study’s result that will indicate on the festivals strategies that they are using to develop an equal festival. The result presents our contribution to further research by introducing two specific strategies that are relevant and useful in working with equality in festivals. The study’s theoretical framework is founded on previous research and includes subjects as feministic geographies, equality, music and festivals. Further the primary data has been collected through two interviews and two imageand text analysis. Each interview with a respective represent from each festival.

No description available.

E-Government applications have emerged rapidly in the developing world. This is due to its usefulness as an enabling tool to increase efficiency and enhance transparency. This research focuses on insights into the implementation process of e-Government within the context of developing countries. Institutional theory was the change theory applied since it explains why organisational structures and values endure. The neo-institutional theory was adopted by using multi-level approach and multi-stakeholder analysis, and these enable environmental forces to be used with other factors such as organisational and role of network actors. Due to its flexibility, institutional theory has been combined it with other theories and models such as: Lewin’s 3-stage model (deeply enriches understanding of how change occurs as well as the role of change agent); Driver-Barrier model (to assist in recognising the potential drivers and barriers that might influence successful e-Government implementation); Comprehensive Barrier framework (relevant for study of e-Government and information system barriers that could be used as checklist for project planning and evaluation);and Three-Quarter Moon model (developed for e-Commerce adoption and applied the model to e-Government implementation) The research questions and proposed framework were tested and validated by carrying out qualitative analysis using multi-methods approach for data collection. Case study research was adopted with focus on government-to-employee (G2E) within public sector organisations in Nigeria, West Africa. The research collection strategy included an in-depth investigation of organisations’ information systems using both primary and secondary data collection. The series of techniques adopted are questionnaire responses, interviews, document analysis and observation. The research findings suppose that most of the factors – internal and external, and characteristics – benefits, barriers and risks, identified as influential to e-Government implementation are similar to those discussed in existing literature, although some may be specific to the Nigerian public sector context. Based in the findings, the researcher was able to reconceptualise the developed model for e-Government implementation, which was specific to the case study. The model was then extended for application by other countries. A novel subset model – Rectangular Four-Actor-Activity - was also developed for identifying e-Government implementation key actors and their main activities, which is a subset of the holistic framework. The conceptualised model should help managers and academicians to understand the step-by-step guide to e-Government implementing process by ranking and mapping of relevant concepts and factors within the framework, understanding the difference between theory and practice in terms of e-Government implementation. The researcher therefore accomplishes that this study extends to the knowledge in the aspect of e-Government implementation from organisational perspectives, Government-to-Employee (G2E); thus contributing to the Information System (and e-Government implementation) literature through reviewing the range of studies using a wider multi-level and multi-method approach. This includes combining institutional theory with other models. This enables development of a holistic conceptual model for implementing e-Government, including a subset model for e-Government key actors and their main activities throughout the development life cycle.

For a decade, the EU and NATO have both claimed to have a relationship purported to be a Strategic Partnership. However, this relationship is widely understood by both academics and practitioners to be problematic. Although not denying that the relationship is problematic, it is claimed here that the argument, whereby the EU and NATO simply do not cooperate, is very limited in its value. In fact, it is argued that the two organisations cooperate far more, albeit less efficiently, outside of the formal Agreed Framework for cooperation. According to the formal rules of Berlin Plus/Agreed Framework (BP/AF), the EU and NATO should not cooperate at all outside of the Bosnia Herzegovina (ALTHEA) context. This is clearly not the case. The fundamental aim of this thesis is to investigate how this cooperation - beyond the BP/AF has emerged. Above all, it asks, within a context where formal EU-NATO cooperation is ruled out, what type of cooperation is emerging? This thesis attempts to explain the creation and performance of the informal EU-NATO institutional relationship beyond Berlin Plus. This thesis, drawing on insights from historical institutionalist theory and by investigating EU-NATO cooperation in counter-piracy, Kosovo and Afghanistan, puts forward three general arguments. First, in order for informal EU-NATO cooperation to take place outside of the BP/AF, cooperation is driven spatially away from the central political tools of Brussels, towards the common operational areas and hierarchically downwards to the international staffs and, in particular, towards the operational personnel. Second, although the key assumptions of historical institutionalism (path dependency, punctuated equilibrium and critical junctures) help to explain the stasis of the EU-NATO relationship at the broad political and strategic level, a more complete understanding of the relationship is warranted. Including theoretical assumptions of incremental change helps to explain the informal cooperation that is now driving EU-NATO relations beyond Berlin Plus. Finally, this thesis makes the fundamental claim that the processes of incremental change through informal cooperation reinforce the current static formal political and strategic relationship. Events and operational necessity are driving incremental change far more than any theoretical debates about where the EU ends and NATO begins. Until events force a situation whereby both organisations must revisit the formal structures of cooperation, the static relationship will continue to exist, reinforced by sporadically releasing the political pressure valve expedited through the processes of informal cooperation. If the EU and NATO are to truly achieve a Strategic Partnership , it will stem from an existential security critical juncture and not from internal evolutionary processes.

The study of organisations’ information security cultures has attracted scholars as well as healthcare services industry to research the topic and find appropriate tools and approaches to develop a positive culture. The vast majority of studies in Saudi national health services are on the use of technology to protect and secure health services information. On the other hand, there is a lack of research on the role and impact of an organisation’s cultural dimensions on information security. This research investigated and analysed the role and impact of cultural dimensions on information security in Saudi Arabia health service. Hypotheses were tested and two surveys were carried out in order to collect data and information from three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia (SA). The first survey identified the main cultural-dimension problems in SA health services and developed an initial information security culture framework model. The second survey evaluated and tested the developed framework model to test its usefulness, reliability and applicability. The model is based on human behaviour theory, where the individual’s attitude is the key element of the individual’s intention to behave as well as of his or her actual behaviour. The research identified a set of cultural and sub-cultural dimensions in SA health information security and services.

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the past 15 years knowledge management has emerged as a key new organisational practice with numerous organisations implementing processes aimed at facilitating knowledge creation, integration and sharing. With knowledge management positioned as a strategic imperative, numerous studies have explored its resource-base and management alternatives. These studies have played an important role in establishing knowledge management as a field of inquiry within the business sciences, but a number of weaknesses put knowledge management at risk of becoming another passing fad. Previous research tends to prescribe a tool, method or way of looking at knowledge while disregarding any differences in organisational context and displaying little attempt to differentiate organisations in a meaningful way. This assumed homogeneity constitutes a deficiency in knowledge management research. The knowledge-based view of the firm emphasises distinct knowledge as the key source of firm heterogeneity, and the role of the organisation as that of knowledge creation. This view largely ignores the personal and social nature of knowledge, and the role of the firm in providing the organisational context for creating, sharing and integrating knowledge. Knowledge management, as an embodiment of the knowledge-based view, thus also fails to explore organisational context as a possible source of competitive advantage, thereby limiting the potential of knowledge management initiatives. The central theme of the study is that the capacity to provide an institutional context for the creation, sharing and integration of knowledge, henceforth the knowledge-centric capability, rather than distinct knowledge, is the key strategic resource of the organisation. The objective of the study therefore is to understand how different knowledge-centric capabilities configure in different organisational contexts. The objective is achieved by addressing three research questions, namely what dimensions can be used to describe a knowledge-centric capability, what configurations of knowledge-centric capabilities emerge in different organisational contexts, and why do specific configurations of knowledge-centric capabilities emerge in specific organisational contexts? Considering the philosophical foundations of the study, namely knowledge as personal, social and context-specific and the organisation as an open, adaptive system, the study follows a social constructionist research philosophy. The study’s focus on identifying emerging patterns or configurations of knowledge-centric capabilities necessitates a configurational research approach. This allows the study to move beyond uncovering relationships that hold across all organisations, affording the opportunity to identify multi-dimensional constellations of conceptually distinct characteristics that commonly occur together. A sequential mixed-method research methodology is employed to address the research objective and research questions. First a conceptual framework is developed from the extant literature in order to identify the dimensions of a knowledge-centric capability. Next a theorydriven survey, based on the dimensions of the conceptual framework, is employed to obtain data from which the configurations of knowledge-centric capabilities are derived using cluster analysis. Finally, four case studies are presented to explain the emergence of the configurations within specific organisational contexts. This research is important for two main reasons. First, it addresses the identified shortcoming of existing research by providing a mechanism to explore an organisation’s knowledgecentric capability following a context-sensitive approach. Second, the research demonstrates that knowledge-centric capabilities can indeed be used to differentiate between organisations at a strategic level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afgelope 15 jaar het kennisbestuur as ‘n belangrike nuwe besigheidspraktyk ontwikkel, met talle ondernemings wat prosesse implementeer wat daarop gemik is om die skepping, integrasie en deel van kennis te fasiliteer. Met die posisionering van kennisbestuur as ‘n strategiese noodsaaklikheid, het verskeie studies die hulpbron-basis en bestuurs alternatiewe ondersoek. Hierdie studies het ‘n belangrike rol gespeel om kennisbestuur as ‘n navorsingsveld te vestig in die bestuurswetenskappe, maar ‘n aantal gebreke laat kennisbestuur die gevaar loop om net ‘n verbygaande gier te word. Bestaande navorsing neig om ‘n instrument, metodiek of manier voor te skryf om na kennis te kyk. Maar terselfdetyd word enige verskille in organisasies se konteks geïgnoreer en is daar min aanduiding van ‘n poging om organisasies op ‘n sinvolle wyse te onderskei. Hierdie veronderstelde homogeniteit vorm ‘n gebrek in kennisbestuur navorsing. Die kennis-perspektief van die organisasie beklemtoon unieke kennis as die belangrikste bron van firma heterogeniteit, en die rol van die organisasie as dié van kennis skepping. Hierdie uitkyk ignoreer grotendeels die persoonlike en sosiale aard van kennis en die rol van die firma in die voorsiening van ‘n organisasie konteks vir die skep, deel en integrasie van kennis. Kennisbestuur, as ‘n vergestalting van die kennis perspektief, faal dus ook om organisasie konteks to ondersoek as ‘n moontlike bron van mededingings voordeel. Sodoende word die potensiaal van kennisbestuur inisiatiewe beperk. Die uitganspunt van die studie is dat die kapasiteit om ‘n institusionele konteks te voorsien vir die skeppping, deel en integrasie van kennis, of te wel die kennis-sentriese vermoë, eerder as unieke kennis die kern strategiese helpbron van ‘n organisasie is. Die doel van die studie is dus om te verstaan hoe verskillende kennis-sentriese vermoëns konfigureer in verskillende organisasie kontekste. Die doel word behaal deur drie navorsingsvrae te adresseer, naamlik watter dimensies kan gebruik word om ‘n kennis-sentriese vermoë te beskryf, watter konfigurasies van kennis-sentriese vermoëns tree na vore in verskillende organisasie kontekste en waarom tree spesifieke konfigurasies van kennis-sentriese vermoëns na vore in spesifieke organisasie kontekste? Met inagneming van die filosofiese grondslag van die studie, naamlik kennis as persoonlik, sosiaal en konteks-spesifiek en die organisasie as ‘n oop, aanpasbare stelsel, volg die studie ‘n sosiaal konstruksionistiese navorsingsfilosofie. Die studie se fokus op die identifisering van patrone en konfigurasies van kennis-sentriese vermoëns, noodsaak ‘n konfigurasionele-benadering tot die navorsing. Dit laat die studie toe om verder te gaan as om bloot verwantskappe te identifiseer wat vir alle organisasies geld, en stel die studie in staat om multi-dimensionele konstellasies van konseptueel-unieke eienskappe wat tipies saam voor kom te identifiseer. ‘n Sekwensieële gemengde metode navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik om die navorsingsdoel en navorsingsvrae te addresseer. Eerstens is ‘n konseptuele raamwerk uit die bestaande literatuur ontwikkel om sodoende die dimensies van ‘n kennis-sentriese vermoë te identifiseer. Volgende is ‘n teorie-gedrewe vraelys, gebaseer op die dimensies van die konseptuele raamwerk, gebruik om die data te versamel waaruit die konfigurasies van kennissentriese vermoëns met die gebruik van trosanalise. Laastens is vier gevallestudies ontwikkel om die figurering van die konfigurasies binne spesifieke organisasie kontekste te verduidelik. Hierdie navorsing is belangrik vir twee bepaalde redes. Eerstens adresseer dit die geïdentifiseerde tekortkoming van bestaande navorsing deur ‘n meganisme te voorsien waarmee ‘n organisasie se kennis-sentriese vermoë ondersoek kan word, deur ‘n kontekssensitiewe benadering te volg. Tweedens demonstreer die navorsing dat kennis-sentriese vermoëns inderdaad gebruik kan word om op ‘n strategiese vlak tussen organisasies te onderskei.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On a global scale, there are substantial studies about volunteerism. However, literature on volunteerism in South Africa, especially qualitative studies, is limited. The limited literature in South Africa does, however, suggest differences between Northern and Southern global contexts in terms of motivation for volunteering. In order to further build the South African literature in this area, this study explored the experiences of volunteers in a Stellenbosch based NPO. Their experiences encapsulate their motivations, challenges, and benefits of volunteering in their role as mentors to marginalised youth in this area. An overarching developmental framework was utilised to understand the volunteers’ motivations, and supplementary perspectives (Role-ID theory; citizenship and mentoring) were used to explore and contextualise their experiences. Within this framework, a qualitative methodology was employed to explore, gather, describe, and interpret the data. Two group interviews with 5 participants each were conducted. This was supplemented by 3 individual interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analytical approach was used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that other-oriented motivations, citizenship, sense of belonging, social exchange, self-enhancement, positive role model identity, improved personal and familial relations, wilderness solo experience, personal satisfaction and reward in seeing the fruit of their labour were some of the significant themes that emerged for volunteers from their volunteer experience. The main challenge they faced was that of transport mobility to keep mentor appointments. The implications of the findings for South African perspectives on volunteering are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is daar navorsing gedoen oor vrywillige werk. Die literatuur is nietemin in hierdie vakgebied beperk, veral met betrekking tot kwalitatiewe studies in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks. Die Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur wat wel bestaan dui daarop aan dat daar sommige verskille bestaan tussen navorsing wat in die globale Noorde en Suide gedoen is. Die verskil is die van vrywillige werkers se motiverings om vrywillige werk te doen. Om Suid Afrikaanse navorsing in die gebied te versterk, fokus hierdie studie op die ervaringe van vrywillige werkers by ‘n nie-staat/regerings organisasie in Stellenbosch, Wes-Kaap. Hul ervaringe bestaan uit hul motiverings, uitdagings, en wat hulle beskou as voordele van hul rolle as mentors vir gemarginaliseerde jeug in die omgewing. ‘n Oorkoepelende ontwikkelingraamwerk was benut, om die motivering van vrywilligers en die aanvullende perspektiewe (burgerskap, mentorskap en identiteits-rol teorie) te verstaan en ook om verder hul ervaringe te verken en te kontekstualiseer. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie is binne hierdie raamwerk gebruik om data te verken, versamel, beskryf, en te interpreteer. Twee groeps onderhoude van vyf deelnemers elk, was uitgevoer. Dit was verder aangevul met drie individuele onderhoude. ‘n Interpreterende fenomenologiese analitiese benadering was benut om die data te analiseer. Bevindings het die navorsing in hierdie gebied weerspiëel. Ander-georiënteerde motiverings, burgerskap, aanvaarding, sosiale uitruiling, self-verbetering, positiewe rol-model identiteit, en verbeterde persoonlike- en gesinsverhoudings, wildernis alleen ervaringe, persoonlike bevrediging, en om die ‘beloning’ te sien van hul harde werk, was sommige van die beduidende temas wat na vore gekom het. Die een groot probleem wat vrywilligers ervaar het, was die van toeganklikheid van vervoer om hul mentorskap afsprake na te kom. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir Suid Afrikaanse perspektiewe op die gebied word bespreek.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This research study presents a community assessment to explore and construct an overview of the scope and nature of support organisations currently active in the marginalised community of Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Support organisations play a pivotal role in the global attempt to eradicate poverty by assisting and empowering people to achieve sustained independence and dignified prosperity. In order for support efforts to be properly utilised, people have to be aware that these efforts exist. Residents need to know what services are available and where to find the services. In addition, support organisations providing the services need to be aware of other organisations that could complement their efforts to ensure optimal service delivery. To date, no reliable informative summary of support organisations involved in Kayamandi exists. Therefore the research objective for this study was two-fold: to ascertain which support organisations are currently available in the suburb of Kayamandi and to construct a typology of these organisations in terms of types of services rendered and recipients targeted. A combination of Bronfenbrenner‟s bioecological theory (Bronfenbrenner, 2005) and organisational theory (Jones, 2010) provided the framework within which support organisations could be qualitatively investigated, contextualised and analysed. To collect rich and relevant data, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants representing 19 support organisations in Kayamandi. The data were analysed by means of a thematic content analysis, using the ATLAS.ti computer software package. Findings revealed various aspects regarding support organisations, the services they deliver, the recipients they serve, the staff and volunteers delivering the services, the funding support as well as the links of cooperation that exist. The themes that emerged during the interviews include insights regarding self-evaluation, sustainability, benefits, constraints, the role of religion as well as values pertaining to service. The findings provide comprehensive and valuable insights which can inform existing as well as new support organisations alike. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Hierdie navorsing behels ‟n gemeenskapsassesering wat uitgevoer is om ‟n oorsig op te stel aangaande die omvang en aard van ondersteuningsorganisasies wat tans in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch werksaam is. Ondersteuningsorganisasies speel ‟n belangrike rol in die wereldwye poging om armoede uit te wis en om mense te bemagtig ten opsigte van onafhanklike en volhoubare voorspoed. Om voldoende gebruik te kan maak van ondersteuningsdienste moet mense van die dienste bewus wees. Inwoners moet weet watter dienste beskibaar is en waar om hulle te vind. Daarbenewens moet ondersteuningsorganisasies wat die dienste lewer ook bewus wees van ander organisasies wat hulle dienste kan aanvul om sodoende optimale dienslewering aan die lede van die gemeenskap te bied. Tans bestaan daar geen samevatting oor die ondersteuningsorganisasies in Kayamandi nie. Die navorsingsvraag in hierdie ondersoek was tweeledig: om vas te stel watter ondersteuningsorganisasies tans beskikbaar is in Kayamandi en om ‟n tipologie op te stel van die tipe dienste wat hulle lewer en die ontvangers van die dienste. Die navorsing is in ‟n kombinasie van die bio-ekologiese teorie van Bronfenbrenner (Bronfenbrenner, 2005) en ‟n organisasieteorie (Jones, 2010) veranker, om sodoende die organisasies in die konteks van hulle omgewing te kan ondersoek en ontleed. Altesaam 19 semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met sleutelinformante wat 19 ondersteuningsorganisasies in Kayamandi verteenwoordig het om sodoende relevante data in te samel. Die data is deur middel van ‟n tematiese inhoudsontleding ontleed met behulp van die Atlas.ti-rekenaarprogram. Die bevindinge het verskillende aspekte in verband met ondersteuningsorganisasies uitgelig, naamlik die dienste wat hulle lewer, die ontvangers van die dienste, die personeel en vrywilligers wat die dienste lewer, die befondsing en die mate van samewerking tussen organisasies. Die temas wat geïdentifiseer is sluit self-evaluasie, volhoubaarheid, die voordele en beperkinge, die rol van godsdiens sowel as die waardes wat aan dienslewering geheg word in. Die bevindinge voorsien omvattende insigte wat bestaande en nuwe ondersteuningsdienste, kan toelig.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All organisations, commercial or nonprofit, are exposed to a highly competitive and uncertain environment which is fuelled by globalisation and technological advancement. Organisations make use of business analytical tools to assist them in the effective management of their organisations. Strategic management in particular, is used as an analytical and decision making tool. The Christian church is by no means excluded from the effects of the changing society due to globalisation, technological advancement and post-modernism. Christianity has been a way of Ufe for many people over the past two millennia; however, there is a growing concern that Christianity is facing extinction. Research and surveys conducted indicate a decline in membership and attendance of worship. The literature reviewed in this research revealed that nonprofits, and in particular religious organisations, are focused primarily on their mission, rather than taking a holistic view of the external and internal environment in making strategic business decisions. This presented an opportunity for a research study on the application of strategic management principles in a church organisation, without compromising the church's mission. The research problem addressed in this report is: Can strategic management techniques and principles applied in business today, successfully be adapted for formulating a strategic framework which will enhance the growth and survival of the Christian Church? An extensive literature review has been undertaken within the field of the strategic management discipline in business and in non-profits. The purpose of the research is aimed at strategic management techniques to be applied to the Christian church. It made sense therefore to gain some understanding of what literature presented with regards to strategic management concepts in churches. Churches are expected to survive amidst a changing society, the church is expected to respond to the needs of its members and yet remain true to its mission. A number of issues which need v consideration when making strategic decisions have been addressed. These include: postmodernism and its challenges, public trust, leadership, volunteerism, money, culture, diversity, structures and systems. A strategic framework was applied to test its usefulness as a tool in the church. Elements of the framework entail the strategic intent which embodies the vision, mission, goals and objectives of the organisation. The internal and external environment in which the organisation exists, is analysed and the results are integrated to formulate an appropriate strategy. Based on the results of the literature reviewed, the research problem has been answered positively. The scope of the research is non-denominational and does not focus on any specific religious doctrines. Therefore, regardless of beliefs or re li gious convictions the framework provided can effectively be applied by any religious or nonprofit organisation. Although the proposed framework could be applied to multiple religious trad itions, the focus is on the Christian church and some examples are uniquely Christian. Ultimately it is intended that the adopted framework enhances the ability of Christian churches to grow from strength to strength. Working within the framework presented does not guarantee the success of the church but it will provide a structure for management's decision making. The need for flexibility within the framework must be recognised and appreciated. The research report is exploratory in nature and reviews existing knowledge to prepare the way for further research into relationships between strategic management and religious organisations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aile organisasies, hetsy sake-ondernemings of nie-winsgewende assosiasies, word blootgestel aan haogs mededigende en onsekere omgewingsomstandighede wat aangevuur word deur globalisering en te9nologie5e vooruitgang. Organisasies rnaak gebruik van analitiese hulpmiddels om hulp 1e verleen in die doeltreffende bedryfsleiding van hul organisasies. Strategiese bestuur word in die besonder as 'n analitiese- en besluitnemingswerktuig gebruik. Die Christelike kerk bly geensins onaangeraak deur die uitwerking van 'n gemeenskap wat verander weens globalisering, te9nol09ie5e vooruitgang en die nadraai van modernisme. Vir vele mense was Christenskap oor die afgelope twee millennia 'n lewenswyse; desnieteenstaande is daar 'n groeiende besorgdheid dat Christenskap uitwissing in die oe staar. Navorsing en opnames toon 'n afname in lidmaatskap en bywoning aan godsdienste. Die geskrifte wat vir hierdie navorsing bestudeer is, het onthul dat nle-winsgewende, en in die besonder religieuse organisasies, allereerste op hul missie fokus, eerder as om 'n holistiese benadering te neem van die interne en eksterne omgewingsomstandighede, wanneer strategiese ondernemingsbesluite geneem word . Dit het die geleentheid geskep vir navorsing in die toepassing van stategiese bestuursbeginsels in 'n kerk-organisasie, sonder om die kerk se missie in gevaar te stel. Die navorsingsprobleem wat in hierdie verslag aangespreek word, is: Kan die strategiese bestuurstegnieke en -beginsels wat hedendaags in sake-ondernemings toegepas word, suksesvol aangepas word om 'n strategiese raamwerk te formuleer wat die ontwikkeling en oorlewing van die Christel ike kerk sal verhoog? 'n Uitgebreide oorsig van literatuur rakende die terrein van strategiese bestuursbeginsels In sake-ondernemings en nie-winsgewinde assosiasies is onderneem. Die doel van die navorsing was gevestig op strategiese bestuursbeginsels wat op die Christelike kerk toegepas kon word . Dit het dus sin gemaak om ondersoek in te stel oor wat die literatuuf s~ rakende strategiese bestuurskonsepte in kerke. Daar word van die kerk verwag om in 'n veranderende gemeenskap te aorleef, om te reageer op die behoeftes van sy ltdmate en nog steeds getrou te bly aan sy missie. 'n Hele aantal vraagpunte wat oorweging benodig wanneer strategiese besluite geneem word, is aangespreek. Oit sluit in: postmodernisme en sy uitdagings, publieke vertroue, leierskap, vrywillige dienslewering, befondsing, kultuur, diversiteit, strukture en sisteme. 'n Strategiese raamwerk is toegepas om sy bruikbaarheid as 'n werktuig in die kerk te toets. Elemente van hierdie raamwerk bevat die strategiese beweegrede wat die visie, missie, doelwitte en doelstellings van die organisasie omvat. Die interne en eksterne omgewing waarin die organisasie bestaan, is ge-analiseer en die resultate toe ingelyf om 'n gepaste strategie te formuleer. Gegrond op die resultate van die literatuur wat in oorsig geneem was, is die navorsingsprobleem positief beantwoord. Die omvang van die navorsing is nie gekoppel aan kerkverband nie en fokus dus nie op enige spesifieke godsdienstige leerstellings nie. Hierdie raamwerk kan dus ondanks die geloofs-oortuigings en - belydenisse doeltreffend op enige godsdienstige of nie-winsgewende organisasie toegepas word . Alhoewel die voorgestelde raamwerk op veelvuldige religieuse tradisies toegepas kan word, is die fokus op die Christelike kerk en party voorbeelde wat aangehaal word, is uniek aan Christendom. Daar word uiteindelik ten doel gestel dat die aanvaarde raamwerk die vermoe van Christen kerke om van krag tot krag te groei, verhoog. Wanneer daar binne die voorgestelde raamwerk gewerk word, is daar geen waarborg dat die kerk suksesvol sal wees nie, maar dit voorsien wei 'n struktuur vir bestuurslui se besluitneming. Die nodigheid vir buigsaamheid binne die raamwerk moet ook erken en waardeer word.